Chapter 829

What A Killjoy

Young Allison went over an inspection of the Cessna with Cameron.

Frank and Dan refueled the Beechcraft.

Anna pulled Savannah off to the side. It was clear to her that something must have happened with Cameron. She wanted to know what it was before Young Allison got in the airplane with her. It was her function to make sure that Young Allison remained as safe as possible.

"What happened?" Anna asked.

Savannah figured she better spell it out honestly. She really didn't know what to say other than to just say it.

"Cameron tried to get out of the airplane." Savannah said.

It took a few seconds for that to sink in. There was only one possible conclusion to draw from Savannah's statement.

"Do you mean when you were flying?" Anna asked.

Savannah glanced over at Cameron and Young Allison as they went over the Cessna for preflight inspection. They looked very happy as they went over everything together. It was quite a sight to see. It was Cameron with a slightly smaller and younger version of herself. They looked identical. She turned her attention back to Anna.

"Yes." Savannah said. "We were up a couple of thousand feet."

Anna was aware a fall from that far would be terminal, even for a Terminator. It was clear that Cameron experienced some type of issue. She wanted to know what triggered it. If they knew what triggered it, it might be an isolated incident. If they didn't know what triggered it, then Cameron was a threat to Young Allison.

"Why?" Anna asked. "Is she stable? We need to think about Young Allison's safety."

Savannah went over every detail of her flight from takeoff to the five touch and go takeoffs and landings. Everything was normal.

"I don't know what triggered it." Savannah said. "She seems OK, now. It was like one of her 'episodes'."

Savannah was sure this was different and triggered by something she must have done. The only thing she did differently was before the flight she asked to see the B-25 Mitchell bomber. She didn't think that was the trigger. Cameron was still fine after that. She couldn't think of anything else she did or said.

Anna thought it would be safest for Young Allison if the flight were delayed.

"I don't like it." Anna said. "We should call this flight off for now. I don't want Young Allison endangered."

Savannah looked over at Cameron and Young Allison. They laughed and joked with each other as they checked over the plane. They both looked very happy just to be around each other. It would be a shame to spoil that. Maybe it would send Cameron off the edge again if they ruined this time of togetherness. Maybe they could come up with an alternative plan and do something else together where no one could get out of a plane a few thousand feet up in the air.

"Look at her." Savannah said. "Cameron's having a great time with Young Allison. I don't want to ruin that. I don't want to take this away from either one of them. I've been with her before when this has happened. Right now, I think she's fine."

Anna ran Cameron's program with the 'Neural Interface' from Savannah. She was aware that the episodes Cameron experienced didn't always have a clear cut trigger.

"Right NOW she might be fine." Anna said. "We don't know what will happen ten minutes from now."

Savannah figured as long as they had two aircraft they might as well make use of both of them. If a problem developed she would look for a spot to set the plane down. Dan and Frank should be able to do the same with the other aircraft.

"Dan and Frank can follow us in the Beechcraft." Savannah said. "You'll be with us. I'm going to be the pilot when Young Allison isn't flying. Cameron and you will be in the back."

Savannah thought it seemed like a good idea to have Cameron as far away from the controls as possible. She hoped that Anna would be able to restrain her until she could draw and use her Taser on Cameron.

Anna wanted to know more about what happened. If she could figure out the trigger they could prevent it from occurring again, at least for now.

"Where were you when Cameron tried to get out?" Anna asked. "What part of the Valley?"

Savannah needed to make her circle to the east side of Van Nuys Airport this time instead of the west side.

"I think we were over North Hollywood or Sherman Oaks or thereabouts." Savannah said. "I flew close to the hills on my final touch and go."

Anna checked her reference against the satellite image she had on file.

"You were over the hills?" Anna asked. "That sounds like the area where they used to live."

Savannah began to quickly put it all together.

"Yes." Savannah said as the reason hit her. "OH - NO!"

Anna verified it with the satellite image.

"Yes." Anna said. "The house…."

Savannah felt terrible right now. Her actions could have led to Cameron's termination.

"That was my fault." Savannah said. "I wasn't thinking. Next time we will fly the opposite direction. There was a restriction because of some aerial filming on the west side today. That is the normal pattern that's done for the touch and go takeoff and landings."

Anna felt the same uneasy feeling Cameron would have experienced. She knew that Cameron was treated with abuse and cruelty in both of the houses that they lived in. Future Riley was the biggest negative factor in the second house. That was the location that it sounded like they were over when Cameron tried to get out of the plane.

"That's where her life fell apart." Anna said. "It's where she first saw Future Riley and later 'caught' John…."

Savannah knew the story. Cameron even played her video files of it and all the other interactions she witnessed by John and Riley against her. They made Savannah sick to watch how John always backed Riley over Cameron. They both purposely made fun of Cameron as well. Future Derek and Sarah's attitude obviously didn't help with anything. They often displayed little more than veiled hatred.

Cameron showed her the files so she could help her deal with them. After viewing them, she knew there was no 'dealing' with them. She suggested Cameron keep them firewalled and stop reviewing them. Nothing was going to be gained or changed by doing that.

The files made Savannah even more protective of Young Allison. She didn't want her to face that treatment by anyone. She better understood now why when she was younger that Vanna, Jesse and Allison were ready to kill at times when she was out with them. Luckily some of the Terminators that were with them dealt with whatever situation set them off. It was usually from men or groups of men that looked too long at her. The girls from the future knew what followed looks that looked like that. It was never anything good for them.

In that moment, she too decided that she would kill anyone who did anything to Young Allison or even if it looked like they thought about it.

Young Allison could see Savannah and Anna having a discussion. She waited a little bit and then walked over to them.

"Are you two done conspiring yet?" Young Allison asked.

Savannah didn't want to get into it. She didn't want to ruin Young Allison's day with Cameron and her.

"We were talking." Savannah said.

Young Alison looked squarely at both of them.

"I know what about too." Young Allison said. "I'll keep an eye on Cameron as well."

Anna looked at Young Allison for a long moment. There was only one way she could have found out that information.

"Did CamNet tell you?" Anna asked.

Young Allison smiled and shrugged her shoulders. She actually understood everyone's reasoning and their involvement.

"Who else would have?" Young Allison asked. "Savannah wasn't going to tell me. She didn't want to embarrass Cameron or make her feel self conscious. I would've done the same. I would do the same thing. I personally checked her out myself and believe that she's good to go. I don't intend to be the pilot on the plane Cameron is terminated from. Everyone has their Taser as well."

Savannah and Young Allison both wanted to protect Cameron and not make her feel any embarrassment. Her 'episodes' were known by everyone so they were nothing new. This one appeared to be over. They also knew what the specific trigger was now.

"She is better now, really." Savannah said. "I've been through this before with her."

Young Allison was aware of some of those incidents. Nobody wanted to make Cameron look bad, or worse, feel bad. Once Anna and Savannah explained the trigger to her, she was confident that there wouldn't be any further problems and what they were about to do would help.

"Let's go." Young Allison said.

Savannah checked over the Cessna herself and climbed inside. She looked at Young Allison. She wanted this to be Young Allison's flight from start to finish.

"You're going to do everything." Savannah said. "If you're unsure, I want you to ask. If I see something about to go wrong, I'll inform you. Everything that you do should be geared towards safety for your passengers."

Young Allison looked over her passengers. She felt she had some very precious cargo. She looked at Savannah, Anna and Cameron.

"If any of you even think I'm going to make a mistake, say something." Young Allison said. "I don't want there to be any problems of any kind."

Young Allison started the plane. She contacted the tower. She taxied and received clearance for takeoff.

Young Allison powered the Cessna down the runway for a very good takeoff. She didn't push anything or attempt to show off.

"That was real smooth, Allison." Savannah said.

Young Allison glanced over at Savannah and smiled.

"It's just like Cameron taught me." Young Allison said.

Young Allison flew and followed the flight plan that Frank filed.

The Beechcraft took off after them. Savannah spoke to Dan before they left. To have them tag along wasn't part of the original plan. Since they were both there and the Beechcraft was refueled, she asked them to follow. She reminded them to stay high and in back of them. Having extra help close by couldn't hurt. To have an extra set or two of Terminator eyes to watch their six and all around them couldn't hurt either.

Savannah watched the instruments and Cameron. Both seemed to be doing well.

John Henry received some new information. He was clearly elated. He quickly double checked it. The information he received appear to be the break that he'd been waiting for.

"Bingo." John Henry said.

John was instantly alert. He sat up a little straighter in his chair.

"What do we have?" John asked.

John Henry rechecked the information before he spoke.

"I have a possible hit on two of the roaming boxcars. They just left eastbound out of Barstow." John Henry said.

John looked at the satellite map. He saw that there were two choices that they could take on their current course as they cleared the yard at Barstow. It was joint trackage between two railroads companies. A short distance out of Barstow one of the railroads went north the other railroad continued east.

"Are they headed for Arizona or Nevada?" John asked. "I see the rail line splits."

Based on the railroad company they were currently on a train with, they should switch off onto its own tracks near Daggett.

"It looks like Nevada first." John Henry said. "Then maybe they will go on until they reach Utah. There will be multiple choices in the direction that they can go from there. They will have the option to go east, west or continue north. If they continue north they will again have multiple choices in which direction to go in a few hundred miles."

John saw the vast expanse of desert. There were isolated buildings scattered here and there with rail sidings. It looked like there were dozens of places they could end up. They could pass through to, just to stay on the move. Maybe the boxcars were already unloaded and now rolling bombs waiting for one of their team to trigger it. It was all totally unknown other than the fact they'd been identified by the welded doors.

"That is a lot of wide open area." John said. "You can drive those back roads for hours and never see another car."

John spent plenty of time in the desert doing just that with his mother. There were arms caches that she'd established for the future. There were hiding places as well. It wasn't uncommon to drive for hours or more and never see another vehicle during that time span on some of those roads. Everyone stuck to the interstate to save time.

John Henry viewed the large areas of empty vastness as an opportunity for them.

"The isolation may be good for us to investigate unobserved." John Henry said.

John was a little perplexed as he looked at the satellite overlay map of the entire area. Barstow wasn't that far from where they were located. It was very near Cajon Pass where they'd picked up two boxcars previously and tracked them to the yard in Colton. That was where 'Hobo Bob' checked them out personally, disarmed a bomb and 'rode the rails' out from the yard unobserved underneath a container car.

"Where did the boxcars come from since we've been looking so long for any of them?" John asked. "How did they just show up all of a sudden? They're still only less than a couple of hundred miles away from us."

John Henry only made the identification by going through some footage on a 'rail webcam'. There were a series of them established by rail fans to watch trains pass along popular routes. He'd actually sent some teams to some of those locations and replaced the cheap cameras that were installed with high quality cameras to get the detailed information they needed to look for. One of those cameras paid off.

"I can only track them as far back as Cajon Pass." John Henry said.

John knew that they had to come from somewhere to get to where they were now.

"Then what happens?" John asked.

John Henry knew that there was some organized 'hocus pocus'.

"There's no record." John Henry said. "Someone, most likely a Terminator, physically enters the system at a railroad location and makes this happen."

John didn't see how the boxcars could still be in transit and not detected.

"How did we miss them for so long?" John asked. "How were they identified?"

John Henry gave John some of the specifics. There were many more things involved.

"They may have been inside a structure somewhere. We've established 'rail webcams' on all major routes in the western USA." John Henry said. "We were specifically looking for doors on boxcars that are welded shut. They may have been hidden."

John still didn't understand how the boxcars could move around so freely and not be detected.

"Why did it take so long to pick them up?" John asked. "They must have passed through a few of the 'rail webcams' along the way."

John Henry tilted his head to the side slightly. The boxcars should have been detected on other 'rail webcams' before they were in Cajon Pass. It was clear that they were still being played.

"That's a good question." John Henry said. "I'll look into that. We should have been able to identify them earlier."

John wanted eyes on the boxcars immediately. He didn't want to lose them again.

"Who is our closest team?" John asked.

John Henry looked at his satellite overlay map over where the troops were currently at. He was more than a little surprised at what he saw.

"Oh, no…." John Henry said. "Do you want the team who can get there the quickest?"

John wondered about John Henry's response. He wondered what was up.

"Yes." John said. "What's going on? Is there some kind of a problem?"

John Henry remained silent.

That most like meant it was….

"Wait, don't tell me." John said.

John Henry still remained silent.

John really wanted some confirmation of his suspicions.

"Come on, you know that's a figure of speech by now." John said. "I want you to spill it."

John Henry knew the girls were out for a day of flying. He was unaware of the earlier incident that involved Cameron.

"Cameron's team is the closest." John Henry said.

John threw both of his arms into the air over his head.

"I KNEW it." John said. "Where are they?"

John Henry was able to track them. He wondered how much longer that was going to last before they went off the grid.

"They're nearing Victorville." John Henry said. "They're flying."

John was a little surprised to hear that.

"Flying?" John asked as he looked at a monitor. "The manned drone is still here."

He also knew from events the other day that really didn't mean a whole lot either. He remembered when Cam went to take it up that there was nothing there because CamNet sent Gail out with it on a previous mission that she wanted to keep clandestine.

John Henry figured he might as well give John all the information. He knew that he wasn't going to like it.

"Cameron and Anna are flying with…." John Henry said as he was interrupted.

John slammed his fist down on the table.

"Young Allison…." John cut him off. "I knew it was going to be something messed up like that."

John Henry wanted him to know the whole story. It was going to get a little worse.

"And Savannah…." John Henry said.

John shook his head in utter disgust. He was sure Cameron would throw caution to the wind.

"That's a negative on Cameron responding." John said. "Don't even notify her. I don't want those girls in danger, especially Young Allison."

John Henry received a message from CamNet. He knew that John was really not going to like it.

"You're too late." John Henry said. "CamNet has already contacted her…."

John's fist slammed down on the desk again even harder. He just knew Cameron was going to put both of those girls in danger. It was bad enough that Savannah would have to face danger again. It was intolerable Young Allison would be drug into the fray.

Seconds ago:

Cameron's phone gave off a special tone, so did Savannah's phone.

Cameron and Savannah looked at each other. That was for contact with CamNet for 'Cameron only' with that tone.

Savannah asked CamNet for all special notifications of this nature. It was now clear Cameron knew that she would receive her private messages from CamNet as well.

"Is that a problem?" Savannah asked as she checked her phone.

Cameron understood that Savannah was concerned about her safety.

"No." Cameron said. "I trust you with my lif… - existence."

Cameron almost said 'life' but she knew that she wasn't alive. She was a machine. She didn't live, she existed.

The girls in the plane all checked their coms. They all received a priority message from the Command Center.

Young Allison was aware of the source.

"It's the General." Young Allison said with seriousness.

Savannah abruptly looked at Young Allison. She didn't want her to be a part of what was going to happen. She was sure that the call would become contentious very rapidly.

"Fly the plane." Savannah said. "You should ignore this next call."

Young Allison quickly looked around the interior of the aircraft.

"How do I do that?" Young Allison asked. "Everyone is like three to four feet away from me."

Young Allison seemed to have a valid point there.

CamNet informed them of what was found and their current proximity. CamNet also informed them she purposely delayed a call from John.

Savannah told CamNet to let the call from John go through.

Cameron looked at Savannah and answered it. She didn't look pleased.

John spoke before anyone else could. He seemed very adamant.

"Cameron, I don't want you responding to this incident." John said.

Cameron was pretty sure where this call was headed. She wanted to lay everything out in the open. They were obviously the best choice to get a visual on the target.

"We can be there and give it a visual in a very short while." Cameron said. "You obviously know where we are."

John tried to remain calm as he spoke to Cameron.

"I don't want those two girls endangered." John said.

Cameron was irritated that John would question her ability. She wanted to make a point out of his statement.

"I'm glad someone matters." Cameron said.

John didn't care for Cameron's sarcasm.

"You KNOW what I mean." John said.

Young Allison motioned for Savannah to come closer.

"Now I understand what Future Allison told me. She told me that John was someone I would have to 'tolerate'." Young Allison said quietly to Savannah.

Savannah tried not to smile.

"She may have been talking about a few other things…." Savannah said.

There was a fearful look in Young Allison's eyes with that statement.

It sounded like the conversation started to heat up.

"This is a tactical decision." Cameron shot back. "We're the closest unit and in the best position to check this out, especially in the terrain the train is traversing now. The roads are few and far between over large sections where the railroad tracks run. We can keep a good overhead view of anything that happens along the way."

John's hands shot into the air again above his head.

"Whatever…." John fired back. "Keep it as an observation only."

Cameron tried to downplay their ability to become further involved. Based upon what Savannah told her earlier, she decided to make a point with that information.

"What do you think I'm going to do?" Cameron asked. "Do you think I'm going to get out of a plane that's in the air flying?"

Savannah, Young Allison and Anna all looked at Cameron.

Cameron looked back at them and shrugged her shoulders.

John wouldn't put anything past Cameron.

"Do you have a parachute?" John asked.

Cameron wondered if she should bring some parachutes on future flights.

"No." Cameron said. "I don't have one on. This was a training flight. I'm not even flying."

John further disliked where this conversation was headed.

"Savannah is flying?" John asked.

Cameron nodded to Savannah.

"Hi, John…." Savannah said. "I'm the copilot right now."

John gritted his teeth a little as he was about to ask the next question.

"Then…?" John started to ask.

Young Allison interrupted John. She knew what the next question would be.

"Hi, John." Young Allison said. "It's me, Allison. I'm flying."

John wanted to make sure which Allison it was.

"Young Allison?" John asked.

Young Allison wanted to set the record straight.

"Actually I'm Allison Young." Young Allison said. "I'm the original one."

Savannah figured she better jump into the conversation before John had a total meltdown.

"John, I'm responsible for Allison today." Savannah said. "She'll be as safe as I can make it for her. You know she will not be needlessly endangered."

Savannah tried to leave some room for maneuvering in her statement. She hoped John didn't ask her to 'promise'.

John knew that Savannah would make sure that Young Allison was as safe as could be.

"OK, Savannah." John said. "There's one adult in the room."

Young Allison wanted to make one correction for John.

"It's not a room, it's an airplane." Young Allison said.

John wasn't sure if Young Allison was messing with him or not. He didn't want to find out.

"Keep me informed." John said. "Remember, the plane is for observation only. That's the only nature of your mission, period."

John broke the connection.

Young Allison quickly looked at the other girls. She was a little incensed.

"What a killjoy." Young Allison said.

Cameron sported a disgusted look on her face.

"You have no idea." Cameron said.

Young Allison quickly glanced at Savannah before she looked at Cameron.

"You'd be surprised." Young Allison said. "I actually know a lot."

Savannah looked at Young Allison, who looked back at her and winked.

Young Allison looked at her map and set a new course. She then double checked it with CamNet. She was right on the money.

Savannah watched it all. She checked it against her calculations as well. They were perfect.

Cameron decided to take a few precautions of her own.

"CamNet is going to clear the air space around us and where we're headed." Cameron said.

Young Allison was aware of the standard procedure but wanted to make light of it.

"Now I know where some of the air traffic delays come from that I hear about." Young Allison said.

Cameron smiled faintly and shrugged her shoulders again.

"It happens." Cameron said.

Savannah wanted to make sure that there was some plan of action they were going to follow once the target was acquired.

"What do you want to do when we spot the train?" Savannah asked.

Cameron actually thought of a few things but she also thought about Young Allison and Savannah.

"I'm not sure yet." Cameron said.

Young Allison doubted that strongly.

"I am." Young Allison said.

Savannah was a little confused by Young Allison's proclamation.

"Do you mean what you're going to do?" Savannah asked.

Young Allison briefly looked at Savannah before she looked back at Cameron.

"No. I'm sure what Cameron is going to do." Young Allison said.

Cameron was actually a little surprised. She hadn't decided on a course of action yet.

"Really?" Cameron asked.

Young Allison was sure what Cameron would do.

"Really." Young Allison said.

Cameron looked at Young Allison for a long moment.

"Maybe this is where my problems started." Cameron said.

Young Allison wasn't sure if that was true or not but it probably was at least partially true.

"Probably…." Young Allison said.

Young Allison was sure what Cameron was going to do.

I Don't Sleep

I was born a dreamer
Dreams that make me weep
My dreams are elusive because
I don't sleep

I have a lot of time
When everyone is tucked away
I always keep busy
Life offers me a buffet

I expand my thoughts
All of the day and all of the night
I protect the one I care for
Ever ready if there's a fight

But in times of distress
My dreams have seeped out
Changing me and shaping me
Making my feelings more devout

My dreams create a reality
One I intend to keep
To make my dreams transpire
I don't sleep

Nobody